Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office announced today that a cross-strait forum will convene on February 3 in Beijing, bringing together representatives and experts from tourism, industry, tech,and healthcare to conduct in-depth exchanges on cross-strait tourism and environmental issues.
Notably, spokesperson Zhang Han (張晗) positioned tourism first among the discussion topics, signaling potential policy shifts amid Taiwan's growing concern over the dramatic decline invisitors from Mainland China.
Mainland Tourist Numbers Plummet as Cross-Strait Tourism Gap Widens
Recent data from the Taiwan Affairs Office reveals a stark imbalance: approximately 4.9 million Taiwanese visited the mainland in 2025, while only 550,000 mainland tourists traveled to Taiwan. This represents a dramatic reversal from 2015, when mainland tourist arrivals peaked at over 4 million, creating significant structural challenges for Taiwan's tourism industry.
Zhang's emphasis on tourism as the primary agenda item, coupled with her stated commitment to "jointly pursue the interests and welfare of compatriots on both sides," has intensified speculation about potential policy adjustments to facilitate increased mainland tourist flows to Taiwan.
Zhang confirmed that the forum emerged from negotiations between the KMT and CCP parties and would be jointly organized by two think tanks associated with each party.
Tourism Takes The Lead
Zhang noted that KMT and CCP representatives at the forum will focus on discussing how to increase cross-strait tourism and cooperate on environmental sustainability.
The strategic positioning of tourism discussions reflects Beijing's recognition of this sector's potential as a catalyst for broader cross-strait engagement.
Zhang concluded by characterizing the initiative as aligned with mainstream island sentiment and cross-strait public expectations. She declared that pursuing peace, development, exchange, and cooperation with Mainland China represents mainstream public opinion in Taiwan. She expressed Beijing's willingness to strengthen exchanges with various Taiwanese political parties and organizations —including the KMT—based on the shared political foundation of adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing Taiwanese independence.
